A Course Evaluation Tool Based on SPICES Model, and its Application to Evaluation of Medical Pharmacology Course

Background and The SPICES model has been proposed to be used both as a framework for quality improvement in medical education and as a guide for evaluation of curricula. The six strategies of SPICES are representatives of innovative approaches to medical education, and each one has been considered as a continuum. The present study models a theory-based questionnaire, based on SPICES, to be used as a course evaluation tool, through developing a conceptual model for each continuum of the six. At the first step, operational definition and questionnaire development was performed as an extensive literature review and consensus building in a focus groups of experts. The content and face validity of questionnaire was confirmed. In the second phase-as a pilot -, the questionnaire was used for evaluation of Medical Pharmacology course at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. The results showed that Medical Pharmacology course located in the traditional end of SPICES continua according to the most aspects of the course. The pilot study showed that the questionnaire scale should be changed. Also it may be more feasible and valid if an item bank is prepared based on the proposed matrix and appropriate items are selected according to the general situation of the curriculum.